Muswell Hill in Haringey, London, has won up to £500,000 in a competition to become a blueprint for sustainable living. Muswell Hill is one of the first ten winning locations to benefit from a £10million fund as part of the Low Carbon Communities Challenge.

Around a quarter of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions come from heating, lighting and powering electrical appliances in homes. By 2050 this needs to be almost zero if the UK is to cut its emissions by 80%, highlighting the importance of local action.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) launched the competition in July to find communities keen to be at the forefront of moving to a low carbon economy.
Muswell Hill will receive a grant to pay for solar panels to be installed at four schools to generate green electricity. The money will also fund a mobile sustainable learning unit, cycle parking and a community renewable energy company to manage the income from low carbon energy generation. This money will then be ploughed back into the community so all 1,800 residents can benefit from a low carbon lifestyle.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Joan Ruddock said: “We’ve had more than 300 communities register their interest with the Low Carbon Communities Challenge, so there’s a real appetite out there to save energy to help tackle global warming and save money on fuel bills. The ten winning projects will now spend the money on things like community wind turbines, solar panels, heat pumps, insulation or green transport projects to cut emissions. The UK has the most ambitious emissions reduction commitments in the world and communities like Muswell Hill will help to develop the policies we need in the future to make the successful transition to a low carbon economy.”
Haringey Council leader, Cllr Claire Kober, said: “We are committed to cutting carbon emissions in Haringey and are working with businesses and residents to explore what practical measures can be put in place to help us do this. This award will enable us to develop sustainable energy sources in the borough for the benefit of the community and will further help us reach our ambitious CO2 reductions’ targets.”
In return for technical and financial assistance, people in Muswell Hill will work alongside government and contribute to finding low carbon solutions from which the whole country will benefit. Successful outcomes from the project will pave the way for a national roll-out of proven measures.
DECC is now looking for an additional twelve communities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to take part in the next phase of the Challenge.

Monday, 21 December 2009

**Tues Nov 24th - 60 people attended a Climate Action Now pubic meeting to publicise the national demonstration on Dec 5th and the planned fortnight of events in Haringey. It was held at Wood Green Library, jointly organised by Sustainable Haringey and the Campaign vs Climate Change. There were speeches, a showing of the Reel News Countdown To Copenhagen film and much discussion. 6,000 detailed publicity flyers had been distributed in the days before, including at street stalls, which served to alert the public about the issues and what they could do themselves to make a real difference.

**Nov 25th to Dec 5th - 20,000 leaflets/programmes were distributed throughout Haringey to publicise the coming fortnight of events. Each event was also publicised separately by the group organising it.

**Fri 4th Dec - A Winter Warmer social evening in Tottenham was organised by the Wards Corner Coalition to promote sustainable urban development - over 120 people joined in the dancing (ceilidh and egyptian), listened to performers (ukelele duo and ballads), and ate scrumptious home cooked food. A rep from Sustainable Haringey made a speech about Copenhagen and the planned fortnight's events...

**Sat 5th Dec - About 60,000 people attended a Climate Action Now march in Central London. There were similar marches in capital cities all over the world. There seemed to be a large percentage of young people (always a good sign of a movement that's here to stay!). Afterwards Trafalgar Square was occupied with pop up tents and a Camp for Climate Action set up there to co-ordinate further discussions & protests at relevant locations in central London throughout the whole fortnight. 5 Haringey residents were among the hundreds there early on.

**Sun 6th Dec - Green Bike Ride around Haringey. Around a dozen heroes braved the weather and cycled all over the borough visiting green projects and sites.

**Sun 6th Dec - A Crouch End family day of festival activities went well, including very informative stalls run by Crouch End & Hornsey Transition Initiative and the SH network.

**Tues 8th Dec-9 people attended the 'Green Your Home' coffee morning at 10am at the Green Lens Studios, N4. It was reported that there was an excellent speaker and discussion.

**Tues 8thDec-About 50 people attended the Highgate and Muswell Hill Area Assembly where the Muswell Hill Sustainability Group and Council reps made a presentation about the plans for the new Muswell Hill Low Carbon Zone. The MHSG explained that the idea was to promote things that everyone can do, as well as specialist sustainable energy projects for public buildings etc - and most importantly they hoped Low Carbon Zones would spread across Haringey, London and the world!

**Tues 8th Dec-25 people went along to the 'Age of Stupid' film show in Tottenham Green Library, organised by the librarians. It was followed by a brief presentation from a rep from the SH network, and then a very good discussion in which over half of those present put forward their views about the very powerful film and what we should all be doing to address the climate change challenge.

**Wed 9th Dec-65 people attended the 'Age of Stupid' film showing @ Hornsey Library. Afterwards there was a speaker from the Crouch End & Hornsey Area Transition Initiative, followed by discussion.

**Thu 10th Dec-30 people attended the 'Age of Stupid' film showing @ Wood Green Library. It was followed by a speaker from Sustainable Haringey, and there was a discussion afterwards.

**Sun 13th Dec- The new Urban Harvest Network was launched with a walkabout around Crouch End, leafleting about the need for harvesting unpicked fruit, followed by a meeting to plan activities for 2010.

**Tue 15th Dec- Sustainable Haringey held a special 'How can I get involved and make a difference?' open meeting @ Big Green Bookshop, N8.

**Sun 20th Dec-'After Copenhagen - Where do we go from here?', @ Tottenham Chances, N17. 30 people watched a superb film made only the day before by Reel News from footage they d just filmed in Copenhagen. It portrayed the fortnight of street protests there by an incredible array of inspirational social movements from around the world. It highlighted their voices, campaigns and demands - contrasted with the failure of the politicians and corporations running the official summit.

Note: Some Haringey residents also travelled to Copenhagen to take part in the fortnight of protests there. Over 100,000 people from all over the world marched, discussed & debated together, and helped establish new grass roots global networks and solidarity in the pursuit of a fair & sustainable world.

Haringey residents Adrian and Robyn Thomas have just returned from Copenhagen:

Copenhagen, 10th – 15th December 2009

One or two friends asked us to report on our experiences in Copenhagen during the climate change talks. We came back to London before the final negotiations but were able to take part in the main public demonstration on Saturday 12th December. The temperature that day was barely above zero so it was a test of commitment, but some 60,000 people turned out. They were a mixture of Danes and others, mostly West or North Europeans. It was inspiring to march with such a variety of nationalities, all with a common concern. Contrary to some press reports the part of the demonstration we were in was good humoured and orderly.

The march went from the city centre to the Bella Conference Centre, a new development some 5 kilometres away, where the climate negotiations are taking place. There was of course no access without passes but a sports centre next to the main railway station had been turned into an alternative venue, the Klimaforum.

This attracted a great variety of people, from serious activists to the merely curious. Between us we attended a number of meetings and seminars. The quality of the speakers varied quite a bit, as did their standpoints, but overall they reinforced our concerns. Robyn went to an interesting session on consumers, ethics and food. She found the Danish speakers a little complacent so put them on the spot by asking what they personally had done to reduce their carbon footprint. She was then interviewed by Swedish TV!

Meanwhile Adrian listened to Prof Schellnhuber from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research talking with other specialists on how to agree and allocate national emissions targets. He gave a particularly powerful presentation, stressing that during the coming century we must restrict all our future emissions to 700 billion tons if we are to keep warming down to 2°C - and most climate scientists found that level of warming disturbing enough. It may seem a lot, but it is the same as we emitted between 1989 and 2009! See http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/interactive/2009/dec/14/climate-simulator if you want to learn more.

It was a good place for quotes and sound-bites. Some interesting ones we picked up on were:
· Politicians talk; leaders act
· The political reality is nowhere near the scientific reality; for scientists carbon-based growth is no longer an option for anyone
· There is a narrow window between (climate change) denial and despair (at ever getting agreement to limit emissions)

In many ways Copenhagen seemed a good venue. It is a very pleasant seaside city, with lots of history in its pedestrianised streets. There are excellent facilities for the many cyclists, and public transport is very good (all our travelling was by train and ferry, which worked well). Denmark is well known for the high proportion of its electricity which is wind-generated, but its overall record is not as good as it might seem: emissions per head are still high and the smoke from several coal-burning power stations ringing the city hopefully reminded the negotiators what they are up against.

All in all it was a most interesting few days and we are very grateful to Robyn’s brother and sister-in-law for enabling us to experience the meeting at first hand.

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

One of our members recently was walking on a freezing cold day. They saw a man in an overheated office. It seems the heat was a bit too high for him, because was sitting in his shirt sleeves with a fan on to cool himself down a bit.

Tuesday, 15 December 2009

Humanity is no longer split between conservatives and liberals, reactionaries and progressives, though both sides are informed by the older politics. Today the battlelines are drawn between expanders and restrainers; those who believe that there should be no impediments, and those who believe that we must live within limits. The vicious battles we have seen so far between greens and climate change deniers, road safety campaigners and speed freaks, real grassroots groups and corporate-sponsored astroturfers are just the beginning. This war will become much uglier as people kick against the limits that decency demands.
...

Although the delegates are waking up to the scale of their responsibility, I still believe that they will sell us out. Everyone wants his last adventure. Hardly anyone among the official parties can accept the implications of living within our means, of living with tomorrow in mind. There will, they tell themselves, always be another frontier, another means to escape our constraints, to dump our dissatisfactions on other places and other people. Hanging over everything discussed here is the theme that dare not speak its name, always present but never mentioned. Economic growth is the magic formula which allows our conflicts to remain unresolved.

While economies grow, social justice is unnecessary, as lives can be improved without redistribution. While economies grow, people need not confront their elites. While economies grow, we can keep buying our way out of trouble. But, like the bankers, we stave off trouble today only by multiplying it tomorrow. Through economic growth we are borrowing time at punitive rates of interest. It ensures that any cuts agreed at Copenhagen will eventually be outstripped. Even if we manage to prevent climate breakdown, growth means that it’s only a matter of time before we hit a new constraint, which demands a new global response: oil, water, phosphate, soil. We will lurch from crisis to existential crisis unless we address the underlying cause: perpetual growth cannot be accomodated on a finite planet.
...

But somehow this first great global battle between expanders and restrainers must be won and then the battles that lie beyond it – rising consumption, corporate power, economic growth - must begin. If governments don’t show some resolve on climate change, the expanders will seize on the restrainers’ weakness. They will attack - using the same tactics of denial, obfuscation and appeals to self-interest - the other measures that protect people from each other, or which prevent the world’s ecosystems from being destroyed. There is no end to this fight, no line these people will not cross. They too are aware that this a battle to redefine humanity, and they wish to redefine it as a species even more rapacious than it is today.
...

On the 16th December a free lunch made from delicious ingredients that would otherwise have been wasted will be prepared for 5000 people. The aim is to highlight the ease of cutting the unimaginable levels of food waste in the UK and internationally.

Ever looked at all the unharvested tree fruit thought 'what a waste!'
We're going to do something about it in 2010.
Inspired by successful schemes elsewhere, we'll help people pick & distribute fruit they can't deal with themselves and from trees in public spaces.
One of next year's volunteers is practising already...
Join in! www.UrbanHarvest.org.uk

Thursday, 10 December 2009

Fri 4th - The fortnight kicked off in style with a brilliant Wards Corner social evening in Tottenham to promote sustainable urban development - over 120 people joined in the dancing (ceilidh and egyptian), listened to performers (ukelele duo and ballads), and ate scrumptious home cooked food. There was also a speech about Copenhagen and the planned fortnight's events...

Sat 5th - About 60,000 people attended a Climate Action Now march in Central London. And there were similar marches in capital cities all over the world. There seemed to be a large percentage of young people (always a good sign of a movement that's here to stay!). Afterwards Trafalgar Square was occupied with pop up tents and a Camp for Climate Action set up there to co-ordinate further discussions and protests throughout the whole fortnight - all welcome to go and join in! 4 or 5 of us from Haringey were among the hundreds there early on.

Sun 6th - Green Bike Ride around Haringey. Around a dozen heroes braved the weather and cycled all over the borough visiting green projects and sites.

Sun 6th - The Crouch End family day seemed to go well, including very informative stalls run by Crouch End & Hornsey Transition Initiative and the SH network.

Tues 8th - 9 people attended the 'Green Your Home' coffee morning at 10am at the Green Lens Studios, N4. It was reported that there was an excellent speaker and discussion.

Tues 8th - About 50 people attended the Highgate and Muswell Hill Area Assemby last night where the Muswell Hill Sustainability Group and Council reps made a presentation about the plans for the new Muswell Hill Low Carbon Zone. The MHSG explained that the idea was to promote things that everyone can do, as well as specialist sustainable energy projects for public buildings etc - and most importantly they hoped Low Carbon Zones would spread across Haringey, London and the world!

Tues 8th - 25 people (of all ages and diverse backgrounds) went along to the 'Age of Stupid' film show in Tottenham Green Library. It was followed by a brief presentation from a rep from the SH network, and then a very good discussion in which over half of those present put forward their views about the very powerful film and what we should all be doing to address the climate change challenge.

Tuesday, 1 December 2009

Following the successful completion of the first wave of Haringey EcoTeams we are recruiting team leaders and members to participate in the next phase of the project.

EcoTeams are groups of people who come together once a month to discuss different environmental topics and agree on actions to reduce their impacts. Participating EcoTeam households will make savings on carbon emissions and money and will also compliment the other events and actions organised by the Sustainable Haringey Network during the Climate Change

Conference taking place in Copenhagen in December.

Savings - on average EcoTeam households:

reduce their direct CO2 emissions by 16.6%

reduce heating energy consumption by 21%

reduce their rubbish by 20%

reduce their water use by 15%

reduce energy & water bills by £170 a year

If you would like to become an EcoTeam leader and help your family, friends and neighbours achieve tangible savings please log on to www.ecoteams.org.uk and register online to access the resources which will help you lead your team and achieve savings.

Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Living Streets is the national charity which campaigns for better streets and public spaces for people on foot. The Sustainable Haringey Network is concerned with the need to reduce our carbon footprint and therefore campaigns for more opportunities for car free travel. The Campaign for Better Transport is the independent national body that seeks to put people and the environment first in transport decisions and to find sustainable transport solutions.

The proposal to eliminate the notorious one way system which turns a whole area of Tottenham into an island bounded by swirling traffic is very welcome. Also welcome is the proposal to enlarge the bus station at Tottenham Hale station so that it can be served by all the routes. The no-right turn from the High Road into Broad Lane is welcome as it deals with the potential problem of increasing the traffic in that road with its narrow section and tight corner. Wider pavements with opportunities for tree planting are also welcome. There are however some concerns:

· Most proposed pedestrian crossings are staggered. These cause considerable inconvenience to pedestrians. In most cases it would be possible to build them so that they are continuous from one side of the road to the other.

· There are no crossings for pedestrians over the High Road at the corner of Philip Lane.

· Although there are proposals to remove flower planters and some trees there is little concern paid to increasing the greening of the High Road apart from the possibility of some new trees. Planners need to do everything possible to increase to the maximum the amount of pavement area, greenery, social spaces/squares and facilities encouraging community usage (eg benches) along the route.

· No traffic calming measures appear to be proposed. This is particularly important in the High Road where there is an uninterrupted sweep from the Monument to Seven Sisters corner. The design should reflect the fact that alternatives to private car usage are certain to have an ever greater priority in the near future. This is not only due to the increasing recognition of the positive need for liveable urban environments, but also due to the overarching need to create a low/zero-carbon society as soon as humanly possible. For example we note that London Borough of Haringey's recently adopted carbon target is 40% reduction by 2020.

· It is not clear whether there are drop off points for cars within the Hale bus station nor where the entrance to the car park is to be.

· The elimination of the south-bound bus lane in the High Road would cause considerable delays to buses. If two lanes southbound are required for general traffic the right turn lane designated for traffic from the High Road to West Green Road could be used. A right turn prohibition at this point would inconvenience relatively few vehicles and these could be redirected around Monument Way and Broad Lane. At least this part of the High Road could then have a bus lane.

· Cycle lanes are not continuous and cyclists appear to have no priority over other traffic. There are particular problems with the cycle lane alongside the High Road. This appears to be set in the middle of the footpath creating conflicts with pedestrians. The cycle lane could instead be set near the kerb and a cycle crossing incorporated over West Green Road. Northbound the cycle lane appears to end at Town Hall Approach. It should continue up this road allowing cyclists to ride contrary to the one-way bus lane. Traffic lights should be set to allow cyclists to proceed without having to dismount.

If we want a modern urban environment that's fit for purpose in the near future, and value for money, we should be designing it to ensure the priorities are pedestrians, cycling and public transport.

Speakers: including a windturbine factory worker from Vestas who was recently involved in occupying the plant to prevent its closure

+ Discussion

This public meeting has been organised jointly by the Sustainable Haringey network and the Campaign against Climate Change to mark the historic United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen from December 7th -18th. The meeting will launch the local publicity for a national 'Climate Action Now' demonstration in Central London on December 5th, and the Haringey Carbon Reduction and Sustainability Fortnight of green events from Dec 5th-18th.

The Copenhagen conference is being described as the most important international event in the history of humanity. Thousands of delegates there will be discussing what needs to be done in the light of the threat of catastrophic climate change and the need to create a sustainable world for future generations. Hundreds of thousands will be protesting on Copenhagen’s streets. They will be demanding a global agreement to reduce fossil fuel emissions and to immediately start building a zero carbon economy. Whilst the politicians and lobbyists debate and prevaricate, what can we - the people around the world - do ourselves during that fortnight and beyond to step up the pressure for the urgent action needed?

As well as backing the national demonstration on Dec 5th (details below), from December 5th-18th the Sustainable Haringey network is promoting a Carbon Reduction and Sustainability Fortnight - two weeks of green events throughout Haringey. Sustainable Haringey are calling on all residents and local groups to organise green activities, meetings, leafleting, tree planting, protests, teach-ins, bike rides, film shows and skills-sharing etc. This will serve to raise the local profile of what is being discussed in Copenhagen, and stimulate debate about we can and must do locally to make a real difference ourselves.

" A fortnight of action will kick off on Dec 5th with a mass demonstration in Central London. We call on all residents to demand the right local and global policies and effective action now. All public institutions and private companies should cut their own carbon footprint over the coming year, and our society should adopt sustainable lifestyles and practices. Local residents can join with us in trying to develop community-led solutions and create a sustainable world for future generations." - SH spokeperson

– this is one of our last chance’s to get together before we hit the streets demonstrating in December.

Programme11:45 Doors Open

12:15-13:15 Session 1 "10% Cuts by end 2010: the case for emergency action"

13:15-13:45 Break and Workshops including:Introduction to campaigning against Agrofuels, hosted by Biofuelwatch and Food Not Fuel

13:45-14:45 Session 2 "Green Jobs Now - a million climate jobs by end 2010"

14:45-15:15 Break and Workshops including:Discussion of the role of Trade Unionists in building the Climate movement before and after Copenhagen, hosted by Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group

Friday, 23 October 2009

Saturday's the day! October 24, the International Day of Climate Action. So join the nearest 350 action knowing you'll be part of something big .

Very big, in fact. This campaign has gone viral--there will be over four thousand events taking place simultaneously in over 175 nations. As far as we can tell, you'll be part of the single most widespread day of political action about any issue that our planet has ever seen.

There are too many incredible events to list in one place, but here are some of the highlights:

The Big Blow (AKA Global Horning): Saturday October 24th, 12.30pm. London Victoria Tower Gardens. Closest stations Westminster or Pimlico. Horn players, or blowers generally, get ready to clear your lungs....followed by a giant aerial photo in front of the London Eye, highlighting the critical 350 number. It begins at 2pm. It's a real opportunity to frame the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, and raise awareness on this issue.

In Cambodia, citizens from across the country will gather at the famous Angkor Wat to take a giant 350 action photo.

In Hungary, hundreds of bathers will jump into the public baths in Budapest and do a 350 synchronized swimming performance.

In Nepal, over a thousand young people and monks will march to the Swayambhunath world heritage site temple where they will form a large 350 with traditional lanterns.

In the United States, 350 people will dance to Michael Jackson's Thriller in Seattle -- because if we don't stop global warming, we might as well be undead.

In Panama, indigenous youth will lead a moonlight vigil in Kuna Yala, their vulnerable low-lying islands off the coast of Panama, forming a 350 at sunrise.

When you're out there marching or rallying, biking or kite-flying, singing or taking part in whatever is going on in your community, take a minute and try to imagine all the other people doing the same kind of things all around the world--every one taking the same basic scientific fact and driving it into the public consciousness.

350 is the most important number in the world--scientists have told us that it's the most carbon dioxide we can have in the atmosphere, and now we're making sure everyone knows. We'll be taking photos from all the events, projecting them on the big screens in New York's Times Square, and delivering them to major media outlets and hundreds of world leaders in the coming weeks. The combined noise from these events will ensure that world leaders who gather next month at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen to create the world's new plan on climate change will hear our call. They will know that when negotiating the fate of our planet, there is a passionate movement out there which will hold them accountable.

After your event on Saturday, check out www.350.org, where we will show a glorious slideshow of photos from events in every corner of the earth. Be proud of what you've accomplished.

And if you have any doubts about where the fun in your neighborhood is on Saturday, check out this link to find an event near you: www.350.org/map

A team from Muswell Hill Sustainability Group (MHSG) got through to the finals of the British Gas Green Streets competition on 12th October 2009, in which community-based groups pitched for £150,000 to be awarded for energy efficiency projects. The MHSG proposal included a plan to set up a local cooperatively-owned energy services company which would produce and distribute electricity from renewable sources. Sadly, they were pipped to the post by a group from Richmond, but the experience of developing a detailed plan will be useful in future bids.

Sunday, 11 October 2009

Jeremy Green attended a workshop at Senate House on climate change, security, the state's agenda etc - pretty much central to what Sustainable Haringey is about, I think. He wrote a small piece about it on his own blog and links to it here.

Tuesday, 29 September 2009

On a sunny september day we attended the official opening of the Hornsey Health Centre "to help people living in Hornsey to lead healthy lives". Sadly the sun doesn't seem to penetrate the new building and the lights are always on.

Despite the balmy day, the NHS Haringey AGM was held in a room with closed windows and air-conditioning. Small plastic bottles of water were everywhere, though there was a drinking water tap outside the door. I was answered with disdain when i asked why jugs of water couldn't be used instead. But surely if the NHS deems our tap water unfit to drink, they should put out a public health warning?

The NHS Haringey annual report 2008/9 only contains one paragraph mentioning the environment."NHS Haringey is committed to ... becoming a sustainable organisation. Over the next year, we will develop an energy/environmental policy, undertake a complete survey of all energy consuming plant and equipment and record and review all energy use.... An action plan will then be developed and funding will be considered over the next two years."It's barely credible, but this means they don't seem to have an environmental policy yet, despite being "one of the largest employers in the borough".

It was discussed in the meeting that no solution had yet been found to the transport problems for patients attending the health centre, in particular the awkward bus change at muswell hill.

And after their difficult journey, what refreshments can the patients get?The cafe in the foyer displays a wide array of bottled water and disposable cups. No fairtrade or organic drinks available, but it sells hot chocolate for £2. Expensive? Well there's no other cafe around, so no competition.

After the meeting the staff cleared food waste, recyclables & non-recyclables into the same bin-liner.

So is all this whinging about environmental concerns just a distraction from the serious business of healthcare and saving lives?

'Climate change is the greatest public health disaster facing us today and one that requires action at local, national and international level. Only by firm and decisive action now can we, as a global community, hope to avert or mitigate an impending public health catastrophe of immense proportions.' Presidents of the Faculty of Public Health, Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in the British Medical Journal.

+ We have started our 1st pilot Back To Earth local Community Food Growing and Green Skills Training projects for Haringey on local allotments.If you want to do local community food growing, horticultural or green skills training, volunteering or mentoring, please let us know.

+ The latest plans for Lordship Rec are in the

Café displayed for your edification& comments.

ALSOwe will be holding 2 Back2Earth Volunteer Recruitment and Induction days for all Back2Earth Activities planned over the next few months.

The B2E Tottenham Flower & Produce Show on September 12thas part of the 3rd amazing Restore the Rec Festivalwas a great success – thanks to all who participated.

The Sustainable Haringey Network are celebrating a win for the borough, which they believe will help cut Haringey’s carbon emissions.

In partnership with Haringey Council's library service, The Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre for London is making 100 energy monitors available to library users to help them cut electricity costs.

Library users can borrow these special devices - wireless energy monitors - which show how much electricity is being used in the home and how much it is costing.
Borrowers will instantly be able to find out which electrical appliances are costing them the most money to run.

Sustainable Haringey has been lobbying for the idea for over a year. Sarah Cope of Sustainable Haringey explains “We knew that Lewisham had done this in their borough and I thought it would be an easy and effective thing that Haringey could do too. It’s a simple idea which will help people both lessen their carbon footprint and save themselves some money. Smart meters are just one of the many ways in which Sustainable Haringey are trying to ensure that the borough plays its full part in the global effort to cut carbon emissions.'The monitors are easy to install, a simple fact sheet on how to fit them is provided, and they come with a portable display showing how much electricity is being used in costs per hour, kilowatts or and associated greenhouse gases emitted.

Every library user who borrows an energy monitor will also receive two free energy saving lightbulbs to help them decrease their energy consumption and electricity bills by up to £16 a year.

In Lewisham, where the meters have been available to borrow from libraries since last year, householders have reduced energy consumption by between 5 and 15%, representing £25 to £75 from a £500 bill. Residents can also attend a free Home Energy Doctor drop-in session to get advice on energy efficiency in the home and how that could save up to £300 per annum on home energy bills.

The Sustainable Haringey network has also been promoting local neighbourhood eco-teams thorughout Haringey, and a wide range of other effective methods, policies and practices to create a long-term sustainable future for the borough.

Thursday, 10 September 2009

IMPORTANTPetition against Codex Alimentarius (it just means Food Code - the Latin name is just meant to confuse us or think its not to do with us, but it will affect everyone)

Some of you will be familiar with this, but for others you may not be aware of what parliament is about to do in your name.

Codex Alimentairus is a law designed to hand over the control of natural remedies to the pharmaceutical giants. One more attempt to regulate us - with potentially dire consequences. Unless we take this last opportunity and act now we will not be able to buy vitamins or health/nutritional supplements without a doctor's prescription - they will be banned from 31st December 2009.

You may think this can't happen, you may think why haven't I heard about this before. Ther reason is that there are vested interests, giant multinational pharmaceutical companies, and it is not in their interest that you know about an oppose this. They and our lawmakers in Europe are banking on public apathy. Despite considerable pressure already exerted our government is still planning to implement this law - UNLESS THERE IS MASSIVE OPPOSITION IT WILL GO AHEAD.

Like many health and safety matters this was started with good intentions, in 1962 by the United Nations, to establish international free trade foods but has become a major threat to our civil liberties and freedom of choice.

Please, sign the petition to the Prime Minister. It takes 10 seconds! This is for our health and for the well-being of our children. Please click on the link below...... DEADLINE IS 05 SEPTEMBER 09.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Vitamins/For more information google opposition to codex alimentarius or look on facebook and you'll see that the threat is very real and opposition is from the people from all walks of life in many countries.

Speaking at the London Congress, a meeting of the Mayor of London and the capital’s 33 boroughs at the Guildhall, Boris Johnson announced the ten successful boroughs.

As part of their winning project for Muswell Hill, Haringey Council and partners will be working with local retailers and other organizations to use their roof space to install photovoltaic panels which can then be used to produce power for local buildings as well as installing measures to make community buildings, including the local library, examples of low carbon energy use.

The Mayor wants to make London a low carbon city, boosting ‘green collar’ jobs in the capital and helping to lower energy bills by becoming more energy efficient. These zones will showcase exactly how London can become a low carbon city by using a wide range of measures to help people cut carbon and by reducing the emissions of some of London's older buildings, which have generally been more difficult to make energy efficient.

The zones have a target to deliver 20.12 per cent of carbon emissions savings by 2012 and are bringing together local authorities, community organisations, residents, businesses and utilities to work in partnership in a targeted geographic area. The winning low carbon zones on average will save over 23 per cent by 2012. The zones will cover over 13,000 residential properties, around 1,000 shops and businesses, 20 schools as well as a hospital, places of worship and community centres.

Boris Johnson said:

“I am delighted to unveil the ten winning carbon-busting neighbourhoods in
London. There was a high calibre of bids from across the boroughs and it was a
difficult choice, but the winning entries are championing the latest
technologies, which will help us to become a leading low carbon city.”

Haringey Council leader, Cllr Claire Kober, said:

“We are thrilled to have succeeded in our bid, which is a real boost to our
green credentials and an important recognition of the work we are doing to cut
CO2 emissions. We want to become one of London’s greenest boroughs and this
innovative scheme is another key step in helping us achieve that important
goal.”

London Councils Executive member for sustainability, Councillor Sean Brennan, said:

“The Low Carbon Zones show the joint commitment between the boroughs and the
Mayor to make the capital more energy efficient. Not only will this have a huge
positive impact on our environment but could also help Londoners save money.

“London’s boroughs are committed to helping make the capital a
greener place to live and work, and this is just one example of how the closer
working between the boroughs and the Mayor through the City Charter is helping
to improve the lives of every member of our community.”

The Low Carbon Zones will be funded by the London Development Agency's budget for climate change activities. The Mayor has pledged to cut emissions in London by 60 per cent by 2025 and these Zones will showcase how this can be achieved using existing and new technologies, helping to establish the capital as a leading low carbon city. The Mayor will be helping Londoners to become more energy efficient through a London-wide homes energy efficiency programme set to launch next year.

This was the second meeting of the London Congress, the body set up to oversee the workings of the City Charter signed by the Mayor and London’s 33 boroughs in April of this year

As well as looking at ways to tackle climate change in the capital the Congress also discussed ongoing work to tackle youth violence, make the police more locally accountable and the impact of the economic downturn on boroughs in London.

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